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Showing results for criminal. Search instead for criminali.
Definitions

criminal

[krim-uh-nl] / ˈkrɪm ə nl /
ADJECTIVE
lawless, felonious
Synonyms
STRONGEST
corrupt deplorable illegal illegitimate illicit scandalous senseless unlawful vicious
STRONG
bent heavy racket wildcat wrong
WEAK
caught crooked culpable dirty hung up indictable iniquitous nefarious off base out of line peccant shady smoking gun unrighteous villainous wicked
Antonyms
STRONGEST
authorized blessed ethical good kind lawful legal legitimate moral noble proper pure right uncorrupt
WEAK
correct righteous
NOUN
person who breaks the law
Synonyms
STRONGEST
convict crook culprit felon fugitive gangster hoodlum hooligan lawbreaker mobster offender thug
STRONG
bad guy bad person baddie baddy blackmailer con delinquent desperado deuce evildoer guerrilla heavy hood hustler jailbird malefactor mug muscle outlaw racketeer repeater scofflaw sinner transgressor trespasser wrongdoer yardbird
WEAK
bad actor black marketeer ex-con inside person slippery eel
Antonyms
STRONGEST
police
WEAK
law

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But he was again declared unfit to face criminal proceedings - leaving courts powerless to take his licence away.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Sangha’s attorneys emphasized that the 42-year-old has taken responsibility for her crimes and had no prior criminal history.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

"We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are active and that she has the right to a fair trial," he added.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

A federal judge has blocked the Justice Department’s criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell for a second time, citing a lack of credible evidence.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

I don’t want Mom to be a criminal, but maybe she isn’t.

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko